Diaprepes abbreviatus
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
Diaprepes abbreviatus, also known as the diaprepes root weevil, citrus root weevil and sugarcane rootstock borer weevil, is a species of weevil that is native to the Caribbean, where in Spanish it is colloquially called chichí. It has become an invasive pest in several locations in the United States.
It is an agricultural pest in several Caribbean countries. In 1964 this weevil was accidentally introduced in the US, state of Florida, where it is presently a major pest of citrus. It was first discovered in southern California in 2005, where it is a pest of citrus, avocado, and nursery stock. In Texas it was found in the Rio Grande Valley in 2000, resulting in a 2001 quarantine, and then in 2009 around Houston. Another sighting in 2019 confirms that it is still in the area. In June of 2022, a new sighting also occurred in Pearland.
Citrus, avocado, and nursery stock. It is also known to infest sugarcane, tuber-bearing crops such as potatoes, and ornamental plants. The adult citrus root weevil is somewhat variable in size but just over 1 cm (3⁄8 in) in length on average. Its elytra are glossy black with... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orlando | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Miami | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Houston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | San Diego | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Los Angeles | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Diaprepes Root Weevil sighting in Houston on a given day, based on 291 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 47th most-seen of the 1057 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
July and August
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Diaprepes Root Weevil in Houston on a given day, against under 5% in April, the lowest month.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Diaprepes Root Weevil sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 5 cities where we can rate Diaprepes Root Weevil sightings, Houston ranks 3rd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Orlando (United States, about 10%) and Miami (United States, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Diaprepes Root Weevil is recorded against all the insects logged in Houston (291 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
